The Avian Behavior Podcast

Hillary Hankey
  • 4.8 (38)
  • Pets & Animals
  • Updated Monthly

If you are into animal behavior and positive reinforcement training, you're in the right spot. World renown animal behavior consultant, falconer, and educator Hillary Hankey dives deep with conversations and case studies on parrots, birds of prey as well as horses, dogs and all kinds of animals on topics of behavior as well as nutrition, ethology, and problem solving.

  1. Jul 9

    What to Do When a Bird of Prey Won't Step Up

    What should you do when a bird of prey avoids the trainer, flushes during an approach, or will not step onto the glove? Where do you even start with a bird of prey? Before focusing on the step-up, take a closer look at the environment. Housing, perch placement, privacy, approach paths, and opportunities to move away can all affect whether a bird is able to learn and participate. In this lesson, I use the early training of an African Fish Eagle to explore: • How to assess a bird's environment, temperament, and learning history • Why immobility is not always calm behavior • How inappropriate housing can increase avoidance • How space can function as a reinforcer • Why trainers should build movement and husbandry skills before prioritizing the step-up • How a broader behavioral repertoire gives a bird more ways to succeed Although this lesson features an African Fish Eagle, these principles apply broadly to hawks, falcons, eagles, owls, vultures, and other ambassador birds that are difficult to approach or reluctant to engage. We rely on principles based on the constructional approach and using space as a reinforcer, starting off by rating birds on an avoidance scale from 1-5 that helps us formulate a starting point. This podcast episode is adapted from Building Confidence with Birds of Prey, a course in the Avian Behavior Lab. Download our free Environmental Learning-Support Workbook here This video is adapted from Building Confidence with Birds of Prey, a course in the Avian Behavior Lab. You can get your free 14 day trial with the code AVIAN

    What to Do When a Bird of Prey Won't Step Up

  2. Jun 5

    From our Owl Ambassador Masterclass: Health and Quarantine Considerations with Your New Owl

    This is an excerpt from our Masterclass on How to Raise an Ambassador Owl. We added this lesson after fielding many questions about quarantine procedures, and wanted to ensure that an ambassador owl would still have a viable start to their career in conservation education. Here we cover specific signs of illness, potential practices that can lead to stress, and what to do if your facility puts your new ambassador under strict quarantine protocols. For visuals, you can check out our video.    For the full Masterclass, check out https://avianbehavior.thinkific.com/courses/owl-ambassador For more classes in our subscription based online learning program, use the code AVIAN for a free 14 day trial https://avianbehaviorlab.com For free resources, including our podcast, blog, and best practice guidelines, check out https://avian-behavior.org

    From our Owl Ambassador Masterclass: Health and Quarantine Considerations with Your New Owl

  3. May 12

    81 The Expert Card

    What does it mean to be an expert, and what happens when expertise becomes a shield from scrutiny rather than a commitment to precision? In this episode, Hillary examines the role of authority, rhetoric, and responsibility in professional animal training spaces, especially as conference season brings new ideas, disagreements, and uncomfortable conversations to the surface. Prompted by recent concerns from trainers who felt confused or unsettled by remarks at a professional conference, this episode draws a careful line between scientific discourse and rhetorical labeling. Here we ask broader questions about what our community should expect from its leaders. How do we assess skill without moral ranking? How do we talk about positive and negative reinforcement without turning functional processes into ethical identities? And how do we create professional spaces where newer trainers, women, consultants, employees, and others with less social power can ask questions without fear? Hillary discusses the problems with vague categories like "grade school" trainers, and why labels like these do not tell us anything meaningful about fluency, judgment, safety, or the animal's learning. She also revisits the constructional approach, clarifying that it is not about "replacing" behavior or choosing one type of reinforcement over another, but about building repertoires, identifying functional contingencies, and expanding degrees of freedom. The episode then pivots toward stronger models of skill assessment, including the Dreyfus model, as a more useful way to evaluate trainer development through observable criteria, contextual judgment, autonomy, adaptability, and standard of work. At its heart, this episode is a call for more rigorous, compassionate, and accountable leadership in the animal training field. Expertise should make us more precise, more open to revision, and safer to learn from — not harder to question.

    81 The Expert Card

  4. Apr 16

    80 Mentorship and Falconry with Simone Lupson-Cook and Lauren McGough

    This episode is a conversation between friends Simone Lupson-Cook, Lauren McGough, PhD, and Hillary Hankey about what mentorship means to them, growth through falconry over the years, and how to navigate complex relationships. Set on a sunny outdoor deck while casually bird-watching and enjoying morning coffee on a warm winter morning in Southern California, this long conversation invites the listener  to celebrate curiosity with bird behavior and learning. Come learn with us in the Avian Behavior Lab. Guided courses, private forum, and live trainings with dozens of bird species. Free 14 day trial with the coupon code AVIAN.

    80 Mentorship and Falconry with Simone Lupson-Cook and Lauren McGough

  5. Mar 27

    79 Transitioning from a traditional to choice based training paradigm

    Explore the transition from traditional to choice-based training for ambassador raptors with Hillary Hankey. This professional discussion is a presentation from the 2026 NWRA conference that looks into evolving welfare standards, the science of behavior, and the distinction between coercion and choice. Learn about the benefits of choice-based methods, including reduced stress and improved feather condition, and understand the strategic steps for successful implementation in avian programs. For a free 14 day trial of the Avian Behavior Lab, use the code AVIAN

    79 Transitioning from a traditional to choice based training paradigm

  6. 03/27/2025

    78 Bridging the Gap: What Rehabbers Can Learn from Progressive Bird Training

    In this heartfelt and insight-packed episode, Hillary Hankey sits down with winter intern Levi Soucek, a wildlife rehabilitator, educator, and outreach coordinator at the Southwest Virginia Wildlife Center. Levi reflects on her transformative 12-week internship at the Avian Behavior Ranch, sharing how hands-on progressive training experiences reshaped not only her approach to ambassador bird care—but also reignited her passion for the work. We explore: What it means to truly train with positive reinforcement (beyond the buzzwords) The power of choice-based training and offering degrees of freedom Levi's "aha" moments while working with challenging birds like a Great Horned Owl and Andean Condor How foundational concepts finally clicked in real time Practical takeaways she's bringing back to her rehab center—from training strategy to team communication This episode is also a reflection on team dynamics, mentorship, emotional labor in animal care, and what it means to feel valued and connected in your work. Whether you're a rehabber, falconer, educator, or companion parrot trainer, Levi's story will leave you inspired, informed, and energized to take your own training to the next level. You, too, can become a member of the Avian Behavior Lab. Start off with a free 14 day trial with coupon code AVIAN

    78 Bridging the Gap: What Rehabbers Can Learn from Progressive Bird Training

  7. 02/19/2025

    77 Parrot Recall

    This is an excerpt from our live parrot recall training, focusing on the pitfalls of over-training and the importance of recall in various scenarios. We share examples of a black palm cockatoo named Jupiter, whose wings were rehabilitated using falconry techniques, and a 24-year-old cockatoo named Henry, who was initially clipped. Hillary emphasized the need for systematic and methodical training, avoiding forceful interactions, and using neutral or positive reinforcers. She highlighted the importance of generalizing recall to different environments and surfaces, and the potential issues of circular reinforcement. She also addressed specific questions about training a blue and gold Macaw, stressing the need for space and appropriate training methods. Come join us in the Avian Behavior Lab with a free 14 day trial using the coupon code AVIAN

    77 Parrot Recall

  8. 11/14/2024

    76 Tips for Traveling with Parrots

    Traveling long distances with your parrot doesn't have to be stressful. We have moved cross country with our bird family many times. What happens if your bird hates the dark, like one of our palm cockatoos did? What about hotel stays or what supplies to bring while traveling with your parrot? What crate do you travel in? We have you covered with this guide, plus the bird food pumpkin pie story that Hillary's family still tells over 20 years later. Try out the Avian Behavior Lab with a free 14 day trial with the code AVIAN Check out our YouTube Channel for more info

    76 Tips for Traveling with Parrots
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4.8
out of 5
38 Ratings

About

If you are into animal behavior and positive reinforcement training, you're in the right spot. World renown animal behavior consultant, falconer, and educator Hillary Hankey dives deep with conversations and case studies on parrots, birds of prey as well as horses, dogs and all kinds of animals on topics of behavior as well as nutrition, ethology, and problem solving.

Information

  • Creator
    Hillary Hankey
  • Years Active
    2019 - 2026
  • Episodes
    83
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    Hillary Hankey © 2026
  • Show Website
    The Avian Behavior Podcast

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